Rocky the boxer fights serious burns

Updated 4:50 pm, Monday, January 14, 2013

Photo: Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle

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Veterinary technician Victoria Mendoza pets Rocky the Boxer, who is covered in Pink Lady Wound Dressing, as he recovers at Aldine Animal Hospital, 440 Aldine Bender, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, in Houston. Rocky the Boxer, was badly burned in a warehouse fire on Jan. 3. A homeless man rescued the dog, and volunteer animal rescuers are soliciting donations for its medical bills that have reached $2,000 and growing.

Just more than a week after the badly burned pooch escaped from a burning warehouse in north Harris County and was rescued by a homeless man, veterinarians say the prognosis for recovery is good.

"Rocky has had the will to live since the moment he was rescued," said Lucy Moreno, an animal rescue volunteer who helped launch an online campaign to raise funds to pay for the dog's medical bills. "He's doing better, and people have just wanted to help."

When Aldine firefighters entered the burning warehouse on Yarberry Street near the Sam Houston Tollway on Jan. 3, a dog bolted from the building and disappeared, said Assistant Chief Jackie Metcalfe of Aldine and Fire and Rescue. "He hit the road and we haven't seen that dog yet."

Rocky didn't stay gone long, however. A homeless man found the badly burned dog hiding beneath a vehicle near the warehouse and cared for it as best as he could throughout the night. His plaintive plea to animal rescuers who arrived the next day to look for stray dogs has set the tone for the dog's survival.

"He said, 'Please help Rocky,' " said Moreno, who teaches fourth grade in Aldine schools "He said, 'Don't worry about my dog. Here's my blanket,' and he wrapped Rocky in it. This man gave us the only blanket he had to take care of Rocky. To me, if a dog can stand that much pain and have the will to live, who are we to deny Rocky the help?"

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Firefighters discovered another dog in the warehouse that was not so lucky, and the homeless man gave it a burial, Moreno said.

Warehouse employees often feed stray animals that have become a problem in the industrial neighborhood, said Jae Malik, one of animal rescue volunteers. She and Moreno launched a Facebook page to solicit donations to pay for veterinary bills that have hit $2,000 and continue to grow. To donate, visit www.facebook.com/helprockyrise.

"After receiving the first (medical) evaluation, we realized what the cost would be for them (veterinarians) to treat him," Malik said. "We were basically pulling the lint out of our pockets to donate."

Rocky's recovery is going well, but he's not out of the woods, Rodriguez said.

"It's going to take some time for the poor guy but we're working hard with him," he said. "We've gotten him to start eating and the heavy pain medication is helping. He has third-degree burns over half of his body."

So far, Rocky has had two surgeries to remove dead skin from the burns. The skin grafts surgery may be not be needed if the canine continues to heal - a process that could take six months or longer, Rodriguez said.

Malik, Moreno and other animal rescue advocates plan to start an educational organization to inform the public about the need to spay and neuter animals.

"Instead of worrying about adopting out (animals) we should worry about overpopulation," Moreno said. "That's how this happened. We should spend more money on spay and neutering, and go into low-income areas. That's what they (animal control officials) need to focus on."